Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Onset and Symptoms

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a painful, often debilitating,
progressive condition that occurs when a nerve in the wrist becomes
compressed. Let’s take a closer look at what CTS is and what can be done
for it!

ONSET: Often, CTS starts with an
infrequent, vague sort of numbness or tingling that prompts us to
periodically shake our hand and flick our fingers. Most of the time, we
initially don’t give this much thought, as it isn’t too irritating. As
time passes—and this can sometimes be days, weeks, or months—the
intensity, frequency, and duration gradually worsen. Sooner or later, it
can get to the point of prompting a visit to a Chiropractor. The rate
that CTS progresses is more dependent on the amount of pressure on the
median nerve than the length of time the pressure is applied. In other
words, CTS can develop immediately if the nerve becomes acutely pinched
from things like a wrist fracture or other obvious trauma. In these
cases, it is VERY IMPORTANT that the nerve is decompressed promptly to
avoid permanent damage. However, a gradual worsening of symptoms over
time is far more common, but it is still BEST to come in sooner rather
than later since the greater the degree of inflammation or swelling, the
longer the recovery time.

SYMPTOMS: The symptoms
of CTS are quite unique and specific. CTS causes numbness, tingling,
and/or pain specifically into the index, middle, and the thumb-side of
the ring finger, as this is what the median nerve innervates, but not
usually the thumb (unless the nerve is also compressed before the
wrist). Numbness in the ring finger and pinky is usually the result of
an ulnar nerve pinch, which frequently occurs at the inner elbow where
the “funny bone” is located and/or at the shoulder (“thoracic outlet”),
and/or the neck (from a pinched lower cervical nerve root). Combinations
of these can result in a “double crush” or “multiple crush” injury and
treatment must then focus on ALL the places where the nerve compression
occurs. This is why you should consider obtaining CTS treatment sooner
rather than later, because when you wait and let it go, the tendency is
to start making changes in the way you use your arms and hands. This is
an unconscious compensatory response that often leads to further
problems higher up in the arm and/or in the neck.

According to the
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, CTS is the
MOST COMMON of the “entrapment neuropathies” where the body’s peripheral
nerves become compressed or pinched. It is estimated that 5% of women
and 3% of men have CTS, and studies estimate 3-6% of adults (most
commonly between ages 45-64 years) in the general population suffer from
CTS. Chiropractic offers a non-drug, non-surgical approach that is
highly effective. This should be your FIRST STEP in treatment as surgery
can often be avoided!

Members of ChiroTrust® have taken “The ChiroTrust Pledge”: “To the best of my ability, I agree to provide my patients convenient, affordable, and mainstream Chiropractic care. I will not use unnecessary long-term treatment plans and/or therapies.”

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This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.